Floating Covers

BTL Featured in Geosynthetics Magazine For Notable RPE Geomembrane Install

BTL Featured in Geosynthetics Magazine For Notable RPE Geomembrane Install

December 2, 2015 | By Btl Liners

BTL is pleased to announce that we have been featured in the October/November 2015 issue of Geosynthetics Magazinefor a notable RPE geomembrane install we did at the Tumbler Ridge Coal Mine in B.C., Canada. BTL’s Tumbler Ridge Coal Mine RPE geomembrane install proudly graces the cover of the magazine and includes a six-page article with full color photos detailing the install from start to finish.

The article by Bruce Wright includes details on the project from the landscape of the area to the challenges faced. Wright interviewed our VP and General Manager Jared Santoro for the article, as well as President Michael Baron. Santoro and Baron clearly and efficiently laid out the specifics of the project in print just as they did in the execution of the Tumbler Ridge project itself.

RPE Geomembrane Install Project Specifications

In September of 2013, Santoro was under pressure to have a major RPE geomembrane install completed before B.C.’s harsh winter season shut down site work at the coal mine near Tumbler Ridge. Santoro carefully orchestrated giant earth movers, trucks, trains and muscle crews near the mine’s entrance. The RPE geomembrane install was part of the effort to restart operations at the Tumbler Ridge coal mine that has remained idle for the past 10 years.

The project called for a large 500,000 square foot holding area for coal, plus two additional large lagoons of approximately 140,000 square feet. The first lagoon was designed for freshwater used in the mining process and the second for excessive groundwater created by the horizontal shaft drilling.

Install must be complete before the onset of winter in B.C., which can start anywhere between early September and mid-November

The project included a 40mil-thick reinforced polyethylene (RPE) liner

Panels were transported from Prineville to Tumbler Ridge over the course of three days

During installation 1,000 sandbags were used to hold liner panels in place before welding occurred

Santoro visited the site several times before the big RPE geomembrane install in order to minimize surprises. Many of the panels were prefabricated in order to reduce exposure to any unexpected conditions on the job site. In the end, the job concluded with minimal road blocks and no winter snow. The RPE geomembrane install took eight days from start to finish with the lining portion taking three and a half days.

The cover story on BTL’s gigantic RPE geomembrane install at Tumbler Ridge is featured in the October/November issue of the magazine and is highlighted on their website. At BTL, we’re excited about the coverage of this momentous RPE geomembrane install project.